Spring 2016 Issue MCO Nottingham Newsletter Page 1

MCON have had a busy and successful 2015, and are

looking forward to the challenges and

opportunities that will present themselves in 2016.

IN 2015, MCON members at their Annual General

Meeting decided to open their membership to

non-Muslims, and dialogue is now taking place with

the Charity Commission to enable this change to

take place.

MCON’s have in 2015 made changes to their

Honorary Officers, following the decision made by

Zahoor Mir and Mohhammed Akram to stand down

as Chair and Treasurers respectfully. Zahoor and

Akram continued as Board Members. Due to other

commitments Akram now has resigned from the

Board.

Board Members and staff would like to thank both

of them for their contributions to the

development of MCON as a community

Organisation.

MCON’s new honorary officers are:

Yasser Farook - Chair

Riasat Ali - Vice Chair

Iram Nazir - Secretary

Rabia Raza - Assistant Secretary

Liaqat Ali - Treasurer

Honorary Officers can be contacted through the

MCO Centre by email on: info@mcon.org.uk

MCO’s Annual General Meeting will take place on

Monday 25th July 2016. Members will receive an

invitation by early July.

Services for Children and Young People have been

developed during 2015 and future plans are in place

to provide activities up to 24 years of age in 2016.

MCON Children and Young People’s staff Team is:

Mohammed Bashir - Youth Development Worker

Evadney Jalloh - Deputy Leader In Charge

Idris Cummins - Deputy Leader in Charge

Kiran Jangir - Youth Worker

Loneliness and isolation is a major challenge faced

by older people. MCON working in partnership with

Age UK, launched a Visiting Service for socially

isolated older people living in The Dales Ward. In

2016 it is envisaged that further services will be

developed for older people at the MCO Centre.

2015 saw a successful women’s interfaith

pampering sessions project. From this project,

MCON have set up two new groups with activities

for women.

On Monday between 10am - 12pm there is a

mothers and toddlers group which provides op-

portunities for mothers to meet up and for their

children to play, grow and learn in a fun, safe and

creative environment.

On Tuesday between 9.30am - 11.30am there is a

Women’s Coffee Morning. During the coffee

morning, women will be able to take part in other

activities e.g. My Memories of Sneinton, Reading

Buddy Scheme and between 12th July 13th -

September Cardio Tennis (10.30am — 11.30am) for

Mums and Daughters (aged 12 +).

Arts and Heritage 2015 saw the successful

delivery of three pilot holiday projects which are

part of MCON’s Muslim Heritage Education

Programme (MHEP).

As a non-religious and non-political initiative, MHEP

uses the arts and creativity as a vehicle to raise

awareness of the achievements during the Islamic

Golden Age with a view of empowering individuals

and communities to create a positive change through

their contribution to society. The project’s long

term goal is to establish an Islamic garden and an

interactive educational visitor centre

MCON are to apply for funding to further

develop the Education Programme and deliver a

range of projects and workshops at the MCO

Centre and in other community facilities and

schools.

Muslim Community Organisation Nottingham

Spring 2016 Issue MCO Newsletter Page 2

MCON in December 2015 held the Sharing Food

with Homeless families and Friends Event.

This event aimed to bring about friendship with our

neighbours and reflected our belief that activities

should be provided for the whole community at

either free or at affordable prices. 150 portions

of hot cooked meals were delivered to two hostels

in the area. The event was supported by the local

Ward Councillors.

SHARING FOOD WITH HOMELESS

FAMILIES AND FRIENDS

For more information on Universal Credits can be obtained from: https://www.gov.uk/universal

UNIVERSAL CREDITS

Universal Credit is a means tested benefit for

people of working age.

It is intended to be simpler than the current

system of benefits and Tax Credits as it is not

specifically an ‘in work’ or ‘out of work’ benefit

it is one benefit for people whatever their

employment status.

It should ease the transition into and out of work as

people won’t need to transfer to a different benefit

as their situation changes.

Universal Credit will replace the following benefits:

INCOME SUPPORT

INCOME BASED JOBSEEKERS ALLOWANCE

INCOME RELATED EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT

ALLOWANCE

HOUSING BENEFIT

TAX CREDITS

In order to qualify for Universal Credit you must:

Be 18 or over

Be under Pension Credit age

Be in Great Britain

Not be in education

Have accepted a claimant

commitment

Because of the number of people affected by

Universal Credit the Government has decided to

phase in the introduction between 2013 and 2017,

with some groups expected to take longer than

this. When you claim Universal Credit will depend on

where you live and whether you are making a new

claim or you are being transferred from a benefit

that is being replaced.

The government has announced that roll out of

Universal Credit for Nottingham will begin from 15

February 2016 for single claimants only and those

covered by the Parliament Street and Bulwell Job

Centres.

Spring 2016 Issue MCO Newsletter Page 3

The Young Witness Service, run by Victim

Support’s You&Co in Nottingham and

Nottinghamshire has won the Queen’s Award for

Voluntary Service.

The service supports and prepares children and

young people aged 5 to 17 who have to give

evidence in Nottinghamshire courts. Service also

supports young adults with learning difficulties up

to age of 21.

These young witnesses have often experienced

very traumatic events and often need help to

enable them to give the best evidence they can.

This support is free and confidential.

Service provides explanation about court

processes that is age appropriate, court visit

before the trial so the young person can get

familiar with the settings and is design to ensure

that witness has the right information and support

before, during and after the trial.

Accessing support is easy and open to anyone

involved with the young witness as well as the

victim/witness directly. Just call or email The

Young Witness Service on:

0115 985 9312

Monday to Friday during court opening hours

Email: ywnotts@victimsupport.org.uk

Website: www.youandco.org.uk

Victim Support is a charity that provides free,

independent and confidential support for anyone

affected by crime. Support is available to all

residents of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire,

even if their stay is not permanent.

Victim Support offers a variety of services for

victims of all crimes, anti-social behaviour and hate

incidents.

This can range from listening to their worries and

anxieties, linking victims with other agencies or

services, to practical solutions like providing

personal alarms and other security items or

assisting with Criminal Injuries Compensation

forms.

Support is tailored to individual needs,

taking into account victim’s cultural or religious

background, age, language and communication

barriers, disabilities, vulnerabilities etc.

The aim is to provide victim centred support to

empower victims and survivors to cope and recover

from crime and anti-social behaviour; help prevent

repeat victimisation and to protect victims from

further harm. Victim Support works in partnership

with the Office of the Nottinghamshire Police

Crime Commissioner. Victim Support receives

referrals from Police, Action Fraud and other

agencies and organisations and any victim can

self-refer.

Accessing support is easy and open to any victim,

even if the person affected does not wish to re-

port the incident to police. Just call or email

Nottinghamshire Integrated Victim Support

Services on:

0300 303 1967

Monday to Friday 9am to

7pm

Saturday 10am to 1pm

For Text Rely service add

18001 before the phone no.

Email: Notts.vcu@victimsupport.org.uk

Website: www.victimsupport.org.uk

Twitter: www.twitter.com/vsnotts

VICTIM SUPPORT

The Young Witness Service

Spring 2016 Issue MCO Newsletter Page 4

MCO Room Hire

We would like to remind our readers that MCO Centre as well as offering activities also

offers rooms for hire. We have an excellent sports hall as well as a large room with kitchen

facilities. Suitable for all functions and also all facilities offer disable access.

The Centre also offers free car parking facilities to its users. We offer special rates to

organisations who affiliate to us. For more information on rates of hire or to make a booking

please contact us at MCO Centre.

Sneinton Nottingham Mco To find out more about MCON or any of these activities please contact us:

By phone: (0115) 9417865 or email: info@mcon.org.uk - www.mcon.org.uk Visit us: MCO Centre, Jinnah Building, Beaumont Street, Sneinton, Nottingham, NG2 4PJ

(We are near the Sneinton Health Centre and formerly known as Project Pehchan)

Every Monday from

10am-12pm

£1 per family

Singalong, storytelling, art & craft &

refreshments. See you there!

Join other mums and their tots under 5

years for fun, learning and play in a safe and

friendly environment.

Women’s

Every Tuesday 10.00am-12.00am

Following on from the very successful pamper sessions

at MCO Centre, we would like to keep the momentum

going by inviting you to our women’s coffee mornings

every Tuesday.

We welcome women from all backgrounds to come

together to share understanding and friendships

and find amazing ways to build a better community.

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesdays.

For more information, please contact: Alison on: 0115 9417865 or 0740041401 email: alison.vaughan@mcon.org.uk